Introduction to the State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics at Peking University

摘要

Since the 1980s, as physicists have improved their understanding about the electronic states and the transport properties of charged particles in solids, magnificent progresses have been achieved in manufacturing ultra-thin films and electronic devices with sizes of nanometer. Consequently, the research on the materials of mesoscopic dimensions has emerged as a new field of condensed matter physics. In this field, physicists are mainly concerned over how to further reduce the size of the electronic devices and raise the switching speed of these devices up to the possible physical limit. Researchers also pay great attention to the new physical effects appearing as the size of samples is reduced. Physicists expect that some completely new devices maybe invented based on these effects in the future. Apparently, research in the mesoscopic physics may have great impacts on the future of micro-electronics. On the other hand, compared with some macroscopic and microscopic physical systems, our knowledgeabout mesoscopic systems is relatively incomplete. Some fundamental problems of statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics have arisen from the study of mesoscopic systems. Therefore, research on these systems is greatly emphasized and well funded in the developed countries. In our country, research on mesoscopic physics has been also put on the top of the national scientific agenda. In February 1990, the State Planning Commission and the State Education Commission approved the organizing of the StateKey Laboratory for Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics (MPL) at Peking University. Construction of the laboratory was actually completed at the beginning of 1993. Having been checked and accepted by the National Commissions, it is now in normal operation.